Wheels Advice £150 Budget

Bill-87

Morning,

I've been off my bike for a month or two as my wheels are screwed and I never had money to replace them, I now have a budget of upto £150 to spend on them, at the end of this month, and wonder what your reccomendations would be? I've came across a few but I am unsure what ones to go with. That's where you come in.

Pro-Lite Pair Wheels Como Clincher £95.58;



Campagnolo Pair Wheels Khamsin Black Clincher £95.58;



Campagnolo Pair Wheels Vento Reaction Black Clincher £113.01;




These are the cheaper ones out of 10 or so on the Ribble Website. What are your opinions?

Any help much appreciated.

Billy

cooper.michael1

Do you run Campagnolo or Shimano gearing? ...the hub bodies are different and not cross compatable.

Bill-87

Campagnolo mate.

Lillywhite

You can get a pair of Fulcrum Racing 5's from Merlin Cycles for around £150 plus postage.

fenski

Planet X Model B - they were on offer recently for £100 - but even at their current price of £125, they're still a great bargain.

Bill-87

Thanks for the replies.

So either one of these are better bets than the Pro-Lite's etc from Ribble?

giant_man

fenski wrote:

Planet X Model B - they were on offer recently for £100 - but even at their current price of £125, they're still a great bargain.

+1 - absolutely! They'll feel better and probably last longer than your original options.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPP ... b-wheelset

Bill-87

I had considered them previously and there is always someone saying they have them so I think I shall go for those unless someone crops up with a why not and reccomends something else.

Thanks

Billy

thel33ter

giant mancp wrote:

fenski wrote:

Planet X Model B - they were on offer recently for £100 - but even at their current price of £125, they're still a great bargain.

+1 - absolutely! They'll feel better and probably last longer than your original options.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/WPP ... b-wheelset

+lots - Got hit head on by a car with mine, forks snapped in half and only +- 6mm out of true.

Aside from that they are pretty much the lightest you can get for the money and pretty aero.

fastercyclist

fenski wrote:

Planet X Model B - they were on offer recently for £100 - but even at their current price of £125, they're still a great bargain.

No they aren't. They really suck. I've had two pairs of them and had 8 spoke breaks in 9 months. I weigh 150 lbs and cycle on the same roads all the time, so its not my weight. In fact I had a spoke break, whilst cycling uphill earlier today.

The problem with the P-X Model B is that it cannot take 110 psi. Every time you reach that level of pressure spokes start breaking. Nothing to do with roads or anything. Had one break when the bike had spent the last 10 minutes leaning against a wall!

Steer clear of Model Bs...quite possibly the worst built wheels available.

Bill-87

fastercyclist wrote:

fenski wrote:

Planet X Model B - they were on offer recently for £100 - but even at their current price of £125, they're still a great bargain.

No they aren't. They really suck. I've had two pairs of them and had 8 spoke breaks in 9 months. I weigh 150 lbs and cycle on the same roads all the time, so its not my weight. In fact I had a spoke break, whilst cycling uphill earlier today.

The problem with the P-X Model B is that it cannot take 110 psi. Every time you reach that level of pressure spokes start breaking. Nothing to do with roads or anything. Had one break when the bike had spent the last 10 minutes leaning against a wall!

Steer clear of Model Bs...quite possibly the worst built wheels available.

Controversial considering the other comments, however, I appreciate the input.

I had, previously, planned on getting Pro-Lite wheels, part of the reason can be found here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcAWqNI0sV8

Ribble have a few different variations available.

Any one got any experience with these?

fastercyclist

Bill-87 wrote:

fastercyclist wrote:

fenski wrote:

Planet X Model B - they were on offer recently for £100 - but even at their current price of £125, they're still a great bargain.

No they aren't. They really suck. I've had two pairs of them and had 8 spoke breaks in 9 months. I weigh 150 lbs and cycle on the same roads all the time, so its not my weight. In fact I had a spoke break, whilst cycling uphill earlier today.

The problem with the P-X Model B is that it cannot take 110 psi. Every time you reach that level of pressure spokes start breaking. Nothing to do with roads or anything. Had one break when the bike had spent the last 10 minutes leaning against a wall!

Steer clear of Model Bs...quite possibly the worst built wheels available.

Controversial considering the other comments, however, I appreciate the input.

I had, previously, planned on getting Pro-Lite wheels, part of the reason can be found here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcAWqNI0sV8

Ribble have a few different variations available.

Any one got any experience with these?

Well, I had a spoke snap on a smooth road going downhill around a corner. It was an inside bend and the spoke got caught between my seat stays. Entire back wheel ground to a halt skidding me over loose stones and nearly got run over by the 4 x 4 behind me.

Have to ask yourself at what point does a product stop being low quality/cheap and just becomes outright hazardous. Model B's are on the wrong side of that line imo.

thel33ter

fastercyclist wrote:

fenski wrote:

Planet X Model B - they were on offer recently for £100 - but even at their current price of £125, they're still a great bargain.

No they aren't. They really suck. I've had two pairs of them and had 8 spoke breaks in 9 months. I weigh 150 lbs and cycle on the same roads all the time, so its not my weight. In fact I had a spoke break, whilst cycling uphill earlier today.

The problem with the P-X Model B is that it cannot take 110 psi. Every time you reach that level of pressure spokes start breaking. Nothing to do with roads or anything. Had one break when the bike had spent the last 10 minutes leaning against a wall!

Steer clear of Model Bs...quite possibly the worst built wheels available.

If they've been so terrible for you then why do you keep buying and fixing them?

fastercyclist

If they've been so terrible for you then why do you keep buying and fixing them?

What is it to you?

I brought the second pair by giving them the benefit of the doubt that the first ones I had may of just had a poor pair. But two bad pairs is really indicating serious quality problems. I keep fixing them because I couldn't afford to buy a third pair of wheels.

After today's break, when cycling up a hill, I am looking at a new pair. Planet X are just crap, the bikes are good value but you really have to be silly to touch their model B's.

chriskempton

fastercyclist wrote:

you really have to be silly to touch their model B's.

No you don't because lots of people find them excellent and have nothing but good things to report.

You said they can't take 110 psi and one spoke broke when it was leaning against a wall. Are you saying that the tyre pressure caused that? So if the tyres had been at 90psi and the bike had been leaning against the wall it would have been fine, but because the tyre was at 110 that meant a spoke broke.

I don't follow the logic, care to explain?

fastercyclist

chriskempton wrote:

I don't follow the logic, care to explain?

Sure. Once I pump them up to 110 PSI I'm on borrowed time as they always seem to break 100+. I don't see them breaking at lower PSI's. I'm not a scientist so I'm not going to invent some hypothesis about why this is the case - it's just my observation. If you want to understand why it happens that's your problem, I'm just reporting what I'm experiencing - which is a broken product.

This forum seems to be crawling with Planet X fan boys that's for sure. At least have the honesty to recognise their prices involve cutting corners somewhere.

chriskempton

Crikey.

I'm dishonest, a Planet X fanboy and if I want to understand what you're saying it's my problem.

I'll move on somewhere else!

Bill-87

This thread's took a turn for the worse.....

sturmey

FWIW the Como's are VERY sturdy wheels.
3k+ training miles on mine and still arrow straight. Never had to touch them with a spoke key.
No lightweights but strong enough to survive nuclear holocausts.

amd-sco

Interesting, I've had model B's for 6/12 and they have been fine - spoke broke yesterday & nipple seems to have fallen into rim.

I normally run them @ 80psi as roads here are shocking and need the 'give' in the tyres to keep my fillings in. Yesterday I ran them @ 90 as I was going for a tempo ride, was going great, averaging 21mph along very undulating tweed valley through Kelso but once I switched onto road up to greenlaw and started heading uphill -crunchhh, clatter clatter - spoke gone.

I was surprised as I hadn't hit a pothole or anything just normal 'pave' style rural Scottish roads.

Limped home (22 miles) - why does this sort of thing always happen about as far from home as you get on a ride - I'll ring PX Monday to see if they can be fixed.

I like PX, wheels have been great and other stuff I've had from them has been topnotch, so I'm not a hater - but I ran cheap Shimanos for 4 years in Kent & they needed trueing once.

dru

I used to have a pair of Campagnolo Vento Reactions, top wheel for the money. Never have a problem with them at any pressure tyres and my weight was almost 100kg.

fenski

Fastercyclist - you are being a tad too confrontational for my liking - I made an honest recommendation based on my experience with these wheels. There is no way I am a Planet X fanboy...

Having said that, the roads around here are far too rough to make 110psi worth all the pumping effort:)) From what you say, maybe that's just as well.

Bill-87

fenski wrote:

the roads around here are far too rough to make 110psi worth all the pumping effort:)) From what you say, maybe that's just as well.

The roads around this neck of the woods are bumpy aswell, there is nothing worse when you're on the bike. I'm just outside of Stirling.

fatboy23

another very strong reccomendation for the model B's from me.

elevated

A week ago I would have said Model B too. I snapped a spoke last year but still bought a second set for another bike as nothing comes close for the price. Or so I thought...

I've broken four spokes on the rear Model B in the past week. Replaced two only for another one to go tonight and take the rear derailleur with it - pulled into the wheel taking out spoke number four and pulling the nipple through the rim. Now I need a new rear wheel, plus rear der, chain, cable housing and inner cable. Fortunately it didn't break the der hanger or damage the frame.

I'm not at all heavy (underweight if anything) and it wasn't cobbles or anything that bumpy. Like the previous breakages it was going uphill. Seems the wheels just can't handle the forces being transmitted, and I'm no powerhouse.

100psi pressure too, so I'm not over-inflating them.

alfablue

The breakages are probably all related; for the first to go the tension was probably out of kilter, then the others are stressed. I think low spoke count wheels are going to cope less well with a breakage, more load on fewer spokes. I think you have been unlucky, I have had 2 sets for 2 years, one set has even done camping-touring and no problems at all.

amd-sco

Just has another rear spoke go whilst accelerating up a steep 'kick up' on a long hill = no damage but c*cked up my afternoon.

Thats 2 spokes in the same wheel in the space of a month - I've never had a spoke break before, I'm heavy 76 kg, but not enormous.

And both spokes broke in the same place, boundary of nipple.

A bit annoyed - model B rear is now turbo wheel.

STEFANOS4784

More balance.

I haven't had the model b's that long but recently cycled to Minehead and by the time i'd got there one spoke had completely undone leaving the nipple rattling inside the rim and about a quarter of the other spokes were also loose after i inspected them and this, in turn, led to the wheels becoming out of true. I'd say they were good wheels but a bit hit and miss and it seems down to sheer luck as to whether you get a well made set. ( I'm about 65kg by the way)

fast as fupp

campag sciroccos are £144 at ribble and you can get an extra 7% off this price this week

sparkins1972

OK - I am currently looking at the Planet X Model C wheels, which have 32 spokes as compared to the 20/24 config on the Model B. I am after a strong training wheel first and foremost. Anyone have any experience of thse?

wildmoustache

These reports on the Model Bs do suggest they are best steered clear of.

You never hear of reports like that on Campagnolo wheels. They are so bombproof. Remember that this is reflected in the re-sale value.

A couple of hundred grams is neither here not there. Campagnolo have the best hubs and the most reliable wheels on the planet (unscientific warning ) ... do yourself a favour and get some of the new style Khamsins or the Sirrocco's as suggested above.

Lots of people new to cycling are blinded by the £ / weight ratio and end up buying something that is fundamentally a weaker product and in truth no faster (while it lasts)